Global brewing giant SABMiller held its dividend in the year to March at US$0.58 despite global input cost pressures and foreign exchange movements. 18 May 2009
Shopping excursions in the future will be simpler and faster, with cellphones doubling as wallets and the price of goods on the shelf changing by the hour. 18 May 2009
TOKYO: Japan's Panasonic Corp. announced on Friday, 15 May 2009, its first annual loss in six years and warned its bottom line would remain in the red this year because of weak sales of televisions, cameras and other goods. 18 May 2009
Little wonder that the retail cost of potatoes, cabbages, lettuces, onions, tomatoes and sweetcorn has rocketed. Between July 2007 and November 2008, the cost of fertilising a field increased from R5713/ha to R19312/ha. Since then the cost of fertiliser has decreased by 70%, but fresh-produce costs have been slow in coming down. 18 May 2009
Vodacom will list on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange this morning, 18 May 2009, after Cosatu and the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) lost an 11th-hour court battle to halt the move. 18 May 2009
A recent survey of brand owners conducted by EskoArtwork, Adobe, and the International Packaging Institute (IPI) revealed a number of important trends in packaging design, many of which are driven by changes in materials, computer technologies, and consumer expectations. 18 May 2009
USA: At the SPC's annual spring meeting last month, it was evident that the discussion of sustainable packaging has expanded its focus to the post-consumer side of the supply chain. The first day of the meeting focused on end-of-life issues, reflecting the coalition's evolution from an emphasis on packaging design toward a greater recognition that the current US recycling system and lack of sorting technology is a barrier to the effective recovery of many types of packaging materials and to developing more sustainable packaging systems. 18 May 2009
Figures from consumer and retail market research firm NPD Group show sales declined year over year in all categories - hardware, software, games and game accessories. 18 May 2009
Through its CSI education programme, Rainbow Chicken together with Star Schools is providing underprivileged learners with the opportunity to receive extra tuition in mathematics, science and English. 15 May 2009
In the last few years we have seen an influx of imported champagnes into South Africa and consumers can now buy blue-blood bubbles, by the rightful name of “champagne”, for close to the price of a local cap classique made in the same ‘methode champenoise'. This is due to two simple factors: our local cap classiques are getting more expensive and imported champagnes - at least some of them - are now quite affordable. 15 May 2009
How is it that in a year of dwindling returns for investors, a generous offer to buy a company at a thumping 62% premium to its share price didn't even make it to shareholders' postboxes? 15 May 2009
Swiss based luxury goods group Richemont on Thursday, 14 May 2009, reported a 22% decline in diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of €1.337 for the year ended March 2009 from €1.710 a year ago. 15 May 2009
Financial services and insurance group Liberty Holdings said on Friday that its core businesses are performing well despite the difficult market conditions. 15 May 2009
Fraud in companies globally is at the second-highest level for the 21 years in which KPMG has been conducting studies, and it can be attributed to the financial crisis. 15 May 2009
The Congress of South African Trade Unions said on Thursday, 14 May 2009, it has noted 'with disgust' the decision by the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa), despite Cosatu's arguments, not to intervene to postpone the process of Telkom selling off shares in Vodacom for R22.5 billion. 15 May 2009
Sony reported its first annual net loss in 14 years and forecast a bigger loss this year, saying the pressure from sliding sales, competition in gadget prices and a strong yen was expected to continue. 15 May 2009
South Africa's inflation will come down as growth prospects fluctuate, the South African Reserve Bank has reported in its Monetary Policy Review (MPR) for May. 15 May 2009
Perdeberg Winery trotted off with a total of 10 awards - one for every wine it entered - at the 2009 Decanter World Wine Awards, held in London on 12 May. 14 May 2009
McCain has launched its Chef's Solutions range - a gourmet vegetable selection to make life easier with a conveniently sliced and diced range of frozen ingredients. 14 May 2009
Despite concerns that the ratail sector is not likely to have a good year ahead as the economy continues to contract, food retailers continue to be defensive stockes. Absa Investments analyst Chris Gilmour says food retailers are recession resistant as, unlike clothing and furniture which are discretionary items, a food purchase cannot be put off for a few months. 14 May 2009
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